ARMED services veterans are being sought to mentor former servicemen and women who have gone off the rails.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Probation Trust’s veteran mentors scheme is looking for volunteers to offer support to serving and former armed servicemen and women who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
The mentors will work with offenders to offer a listening ear and help them get the support to break the cycle of crime, say organisers.
The scheme, which is part funded by the NHS, aims to reduce the offenders’ risk of re-offending by providing care, support and signpost offenders to resources that can help them obtain housing, employment, education, manage and recover from addiction, develop supportive family relationships and access healthcare and debt advice.
Veteran mentors co-ordinator Brian Leigh said: "We are looking for people who have served in the forces to be trained as peer mentors to work with forces and ex-forces personnel who are on probation orders or being released from prison in Hampshire and the Island.
"Many forces personnel find it very difficult to rehabilitate into society and some end up on probation orders or in prison. The role of the mentor will be to work with the individual, providing them with practical and personal support.
"Anyone who is selected to become a mentor will be given full training and will be paid their travel expenses.
"For more details, people can visit the website www.hampshire-probation.gov.uk or e-mail brian.leigh@hampshire.probation.gsi.gov.uk
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk